UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA 

COLLEGE   OF   AGRICULTURE 

AGRICULTURAL    EXPERIMENT   STATION 

BERKELEY,    CALIFORNIA 


RICE  EXPERIMENTS  IN  SACRAMENTO 
VALLEY   1922-1927 

CARROLL  F.   DUNSHEE 


Experimental  field  at  Cortena  just  after  submergence 


BULLETIN  454 

MAY,  1928 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA   PRINTING  OFFICE 

BERKELEY,  CALIFORNIA 

1928 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from  . 

University  of  California,  Davis  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/riceexperimentsi454duns 


RICE  EXPERIMENTS  IN  SACRAMENTO  VALLEY 

1922-1927 

CARROLL  F.  DUNSHEEa 


This  bulletin2  presents  a  progress  report  of  rice  experiments 
carried  on  by  the  Division  of  Irrigation  Investigations  and  Practice, 
University  of  California,  at  the  temporary  rice  field  station  near 
Cortena  since  1922;  also,  a  summary  of  measurements  of  the  duly 
of  water  in  rice  irrigation  in  1924  and  1925.  Detailed  reports  of 
the  results  obtained  at  Cortena  during  1922  and  1923  appeared  as 
bulletins  354  and  375  of  the  University  of  California  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station. 

The  experiments  at  Cortena  were  started  in  1922,  following 
requests  from  the  rice  growers  for  information  on  methods  of  weed 
control.  At  that  time  the  growers  were  especially  concerned  over  the 
control  of  the  barnyard  grass  or  water  grass  (EchinocJiloa  crus-galli). 
There  was  no  satisfactory  method  generally  practiced  for  the  control 
of  this  weed,  although  a  few  growers  were  obtaining  fairly  good 
results  from  submerging  the  rice  at  time  of  planting.  For  this  reason 
the  experiments  outlined  covered  a  series  of  cultural  and  depth-of- 
submergence  tests  to  determine  the  most  satisfactory  method  of  con- 
trolling the  water  grass,  as  well  as  other  weeds  prevalent  in  the  rice 
fields.  In  addition  to  these  experiments,  a  study  was  started  to  deter- 
mine the  best  date  of  seeding  and  the  effect  of  fallow  on  the  yield 
of  rice. 

The  land  at  Cortena  was  first  planted  to  rice  in  1918  and  farmed 
each  year  through  1921,  at  which  time  it  was  abandoned  by  the  lessees 


1  Assistant  Crop  [rrigationist,  Division  of  Irrigation  Investigations  and  Prac- 
tice. 

-Based  on  data  gathered  in  part  in  cooperation  with  the  Office  of  Cereal  Crops 
and  Diseases,  Bureau  of  Plant  [ndustry,  T.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture;  and 
in  part  in  cooperation  with  the  Division  of  Agricultural  Engineering,  TT.  S.  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  and  the  Division  of  Water  Rights,  California  Depart- 
ment of  Public  Works. 

Responsibility  for  the  rice  investigations  referred  to  in  this  bulletin  lies  with 
the  Division  of  Irrigation  Investigations  and  Practice,  but  that  Dvision  has  the 
advantage  of  the  advice,  in  planning  the  investigations  from  year  to  year,  of  tlie 
following  Rice  Committee  appointed  by  the  Director  of  the  Experiment  Station: 
Prank  Adams,  Chairman;  P.  L.  Hibbard,  J.  W.  .tones  (Superintendent  of  the 
Biggs  Rice  Field  station  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  [ndustry),  P.  B.  Kennedy,  W.  W. 
Mackie,  C.  F.  Shaw,  W.  W.  Weir,  and  E.  J.  Stirniman.  " 


4  UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT    STATION 

because  of  the  presence  of  water  grass,  cat-tails  (Typha  latifolia),  and 
other  rice  weeds.  This  area  was  selected  for  the  experimental  work 
because  it  was  particularly  foul  and  situated  on  Willows  clay  adobe 
soil,  which  is  representative  of  a  large  area  devoted  to  rice  culture 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Sacramento  Valley. 

The  series  of  experiments  outlined  to  determine  the  best  method 
of  weed  control,  while  still  producing  satisfactory  yields,  were  as 
follows : 

1.  Broadcasting  150  pounds  of  seed  per  acre  on  well  prepared  seed 

bed,  and  submerging  immediately  to  depths  of  4,  6,  and  8 
inches,  continuing  the  submergence  throughout  the  season. 

2.  Drilling  seed  at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  per  acre  and  submerg- 

ing immediately  to  depths  of  4,  6,  and  8  inches,  continuing 
submergence  throughout  the  season. 

3.  Drilling  seed  at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  per  acre  and  submerg- 

ing to  depths  of  4,  6,  and  8  inches  after  the  rice  had  sprouted 
and  was  about  1  inch  high. 

4.  Broadcasting  150  pounds  of  seed  per  acre  in  water  held  at 

depths  of  4,  6,  and  8  inches. 

5.  Effect  of  seed  bed  preparation  on  the  control  of  weeds  and  the 

yield  of  rice.     In  this  series  the  land  was  not  plowed,  the 
seed  being  sown  broadcast  at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  per  acre 
on  the  old  rice  stubble. 
Supplementing  the   above   studies   a  series   of  experiments  were 
conducted  to  determine  the  proper  time  of  seeding. 


METHOD   OF   SEEDING 

The  results  of  the  work  at  Cortena,  and  at  the  Biggs  Rice  Field 
Station  conducted  by  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry, 
where  similar  studies  were  under  way,3  showed  conclusively  that  of 
the  four  irrigation  and  seeding  treatments  tried,  that  of  broadcasting 
and  submerging  the  seed  to  depths  of  six  to  eight  inches  held  the 
most  promise.  A  summary  of  the  results  obtained  at  Cortena  is 
given  in  table  1. 


3  Jones,  Jenkin  W.,  Experiments  in  rice  culture  at  the  Biggs  Eice  Field  Station 
in  California.     U.  S.  D.  A.  Dept.  Bui.  1387:  1-39.     1926. 


BUL.  454]       RICE  EXPERIMENTS   IN    SACRAMENTO   VALLEY,    1922-1927  5 

TABLE  1 

Summary  of  Kesults  at  Cortena  Showing  Effects  of  Methods  of  Seeding 

and  Depths  of  Submergence  on  Weed  Control  and 

Yields  of  Bice,  1922-1924 


Weed 

control 

Yields  in  pounds  of  rice  per  acre  for  various  methods  of  seeding 

Depth  of 

Drilling 

Broadcasting 

in  inches 

Seed  sprouted 

before 

submerging 

Seed 
submerged 
immediately 

Seed 

submerged 

immediately 

Seeded 
in  water 

4 

6 
8 

Part  control 

Clean 

Clean 

1,212 
1,606 
1,958 

1,167 
1,062 
1,782 

2,149 
2,812 
2,813 

2,271 
1,812 
2,247 

DATE   OF   SEEDING 

The  results  from  the  first  experiments  conducted  to  determine  the 
best  date  of  seeding  indicated  very  clearly  that  the  highest  yields  could 
be  expected  from  the  earliest  date  of  seeding.  It  was,  therefore,  the 
aim  in  succeeding  tests  to  seed  first  on  April  15,  but  due  to  late  spring 
rains  it  has  been  possible  to  do  this  only  one  year.  Rice  planted  on 
June  1  was  a  week  or  ten  days  later  in  maturing  than  that  of  the 
earlier  seeding.  There  were  many  more  immature  kernels  on  the 
panicles  than  on  that  seeded  earlier.    The  results  are  shown  in  table  2. 

TABLE  2 
Results  at  Cortena  on  Date  of  Seeding,  1922-1923 


Method  of  seeding 

Yields  of  rice  in  pounds  per  acre 

Date 

1922 

1923 

Average 

April  25* 

Broadcast 
1         and  immediate         1 
6-inch 
submergence           [ 

3,664 
2,558 
2,648 
2,069 

2,788 
2,338 
2,388 
1,137 

3,226 

May    1 

May  15 

2,448 
2,518 

1,603 

*  April  15  in  1922. 


EFFECT   OF   SEED    BED    PREPARATION    ON    WEED    CONTROL 

The  experiments  on  the  effect  of  plowing  on  weed  control  show 
definitely  that  it  is  necessary  to  plow  deep  enough  to  turn  the  cat-tail 
roots  up  to  the  sun  during  the  period  of  seed  bed  preparation.  In 
the  plots  which  were  plowed  each  year,  the  cat-tail  growth  was  satis- 
factorily controlled,  and  indeed,  there  have  been  fewer  cat-tail  plants 
appearing    each    succeeding    year.      Such    cat-tail    plants    as    have 


b  UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT    STATION 

appeared  have  been  pulled  during  July.  The  cost  of  pulling  has  not 
averaged  more  than  seventy-five  cents  an  acre  per  year  during  the 
period  the  experiments  have  been  under  way.  Four  plots  having  a 
total  area  of  three  acres  were  not  plowed,  the  seed  being  broadcast 
on  the  rice  stubble  at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  per  acre,  and  submerged 
immediately  to  a  depth  of  six  inches.  The  growth  of  cat-tail,  joint 
grass  (Paspalum  distichum)  and  spike  rush  (Eleocharis  palustris) 
became  very  thick,  resulting  in  low  yields.  '  In  1922  the  average  yield 
amounted  to  1368  pounds  per  acre,  while  in  1923  this  area  was  so  foul 
at  harvest  time  that  it  was  impossible  to  cut  the  rice.  The  area  was 
again  planted  to  rice  in  1924,  and  because  of  the  dense  weed  growth 
the  rice  was  bound  with  considerable  difficulty  in  the  fall.  The  yield 
that  year  averaged  632  pounds  per  acre.  During  1925  and  1926  these 
plots  were  plowed  each  spring  and  fallowed.  They  were  again  plowed 
in  the  spring  of  1927  and  seeded  to  rice  at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  per 
acre.  The  control  of  the  cat-tail  and  other  weeds  was  very  satisfac- 
tory, the  cost  of  pulling  those  plants  which  did  grow  amounting  to 
$1.65  an  acre.  The  yields  obtained  were  excellent,  averaging  4460 
pounds  to  the  acre. 


EXPERIMENTS    UNDER    WAY    SINCE     1924 

Following  the  season  of  1924  a  cooperative  agreement  relating  to 
rice  investigations  was  made  between  the  Office  of  Cereal  Crops  and 
Diseases,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 
and  the  California  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  It  was  decided 
at  that  time  to  conduct  the  main  experimental  work  with  rice  at  the 
Biggs  Station,  and  use  the  Cortena  Station  to  study  the  effect  of 
continuous  rice  growing  on  the  yield  of  rice,  the  control  of  weeds, 
and  on  the  physical,  chemical,  and  biological  condition  of  the  soil. 
It  was  also  decided  to  test  out  at  Cortena  certain  of  the  methods 
tried  at  Biggs  which  appeared  to  be  of  practical  value ;  among  these 
being  the  use  of  ammonium  sulphate  as  a  rice  fertilizer.  With  this 
in  view  the  entire  area  at  Cortena  has  been  managed  according  to  the 
best  practice  determined  during  the  years  1922  to  1924.  Each  year 
a  fine  seed  bed  has  been  prepared,  the  seed  broadcasted  on  the  surface 
at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  per  acre,  and  the  whole  area  submerged 
immediately  to  depths  varying  between  six  and  eight  inches.  It  has 
been  the  practice  to  seed  as  early  in  the  spring  as  possible,  but  the 
dale  has  been  delayed  at  limes  until  ]\hry  15,  due  to  late  rains.  The 
frontispiece  shows  a  view  of  a  portion  of  the  experimental  area  just 
after  submergence. 


BUL.  454]       rice  EXPERIMENTS  IN   SACRAMENTO  VALLEY,   1922-1927  7 

The  north  half  of  the  field  was  fallowed  in  1924,  but  was  rechecked 
and  planted  to  rice  again  in  1925.  It  was  noticeable  during  the 
course  of  seed  bed  preparation  that  this  area  was  in  considerably 
better  physical  condition  than  before  the  year  of  fallow.  Where  there 
had  been  a  few  cat-tail  plants  on  this  area  during  the  two  preceding 
years,  none  appeared  during  the  1925  season.  There  was  a  slight 
increase  in  yield  in  this  area  over  the  yield  received  from  the  south 
half  of  the  field  during  1925  and  1926.  It  is  probable  that  this 
increase  may  be  attributed  to  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  fallow. 
However,  in  1927  the  average  yield  from  the  south  field  was  con- 
siderably more  than  the  average  yield  from  the  field  fallowed  in  1924. 


USE    OF    AMMONIUM     SULPHATE    AS    A     RICE     FERTILIZER 

The  results  from  the  use  of  ammonium  sulphate  at  Cortena  have 
shown  an  increase  in  the  yield  of  rice  in  favor  of  the  fertilized  plots 
each  year.  During  1925  and  1926  the  fertilizer  was  applied  at  the 
rate  of  100  pounds  per  acre  with  the  result  that  the  average  increase 
in  yield  over  the  unfertilized  area  was  approximately  800  pounds 
per  acre  in  1925  and  approximately  500  pounds  per  acre  in  1926. 
Due  to  the  results  obtained  at  the  Biggs  Station  over  a  period  of 
years,  which  indicated  that  150  pounds  per  acre  was  the  most  econom- 
ical rate  of  application,  the  rate  at  Cortena  was  increased  to  150 
pounds  per  acre  in  1927.  That  year  the  increase  in  yield  in  favor 
of  the  fertilized  plots  was  approximately  1200  pounds  per  acre. 
Inasmuch  as  the  cost  of  the  fertilizer,  plus  application,  has  never 
amounted  to  more  than  $5.50  per  acre,  the  use  of  this  fertilizer  appears 
to  be  an  economical  procedure. 

The  results  obtained  from  the  use  of  ammonium  sulphate  since 
1924  are  summarized  in  table  3. 


TABLE  3 

Eesults  Obtained  from  Fertilizing  Rice  Fields  with  Ammonium  Sulphate, 

at  Cortena,  1925-1927 


Year 

Date  of  seeding 

Treatment 

Area,  acres 

Yield  per  acre 

1925 

May  15 ( 

May  10 j 

Unfertilized 

18.57 
3.10 

18  43 
3.10 

20  03 
3  10 

2,797 
3,585* 

1926 

2,343 

May  1 j 

2,846* 

1927 

Unfertilized 
Fertilized 

3,288 
4,486t 

*  Fertilized  at  the  rate  of  100  pounds  to  the  acre. 
t  Fertilized  at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  to  the  acre. 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT    STATION 


WEED     CONTROL     BY    CONTINUOUS     SUBMERGENCE^ 

Summarizing  the  observations  on  weed  control,  the  studies  at 
Cortena  show  that  continuous  submergence  to  depths  of  6  to  8  inches 
after  the  rice  is  sown  broadcast  will  satisfactorily  control  most  of  the 
various  types  of  water  grass  and  will  result  in  good  yields.  This 
method  will  also  control  the  sprangle  top  (Leptochloa  fascicularis) . 
However,  continuous  submergence  will  not  control  the  late  white 
water  grass,  which  matures  its  seed  in  September  and  October.     The 


Fig.  1. — Bice  grown  under  continuous  submergence  method.     Note  absence  of 
water  grass  between  levees  in  left  foreground.     (From  Bui.  354.) 


only  method  of  control  known  is  to  pull  these  weeds  as  they  appear 
in  the  field.  If  the  white  water  grass  is  not  controlled  it  will  result 
in  reduced  yields,  and  also  in  a  lower  grade  of  rice,  unless  it  is  re- 
cleaned  before  being  placed  on  the  market.  Figure  1  indicates  the 
extent  of  control  of  water  grass  when  the  continuous  submergence 
method  is  practiced. 

Sedge  (Cy penis  difformis),  red  stem  (Ammania  coccinea),  arrow- 
head (Sagittaria  latifolia),  and  the  water  plantain  (Alisma  plan- 
tag  o)  can  usually  be  satisfactorily  controlled  with  a  thick  stand  of 
rice  which  has  been  planted  as  early  in  the  spring  as  possible.     In 


4  A  discussion  of  the  rice  weeds  of  California  has  appeared  in:  Kennedy, 
B.  B.,  Observations  on  some  rice  weeds  in  California.  California  Agr.  Exp.  Sta. 
Bui.  356:  467-494.     1928. 


Bul.  454]       RICE  EXPERIMENTS   IX    SACRAMENTO  VALLEY,  1922-1927  9 

order  to  insure  a  thick  stand  of  rice  at  least  1")0  pounds  of  well 
matured  seed  should  be  sown  on  a  smooth  seed  bed. 

The  cat-tail  (Typha  Jafifolia)  can  be  satisfactorily  controlled,  pro- 
viding the  soil  is  well  plowed  each  spring  and  the  roots  are  allowed 
to  dry  four  or  five  days  before  preparing  the  seed-bed.  This  must  be 
followed  by  pulling  the  plants  which  do  grow.  It  appears  that  the 
best  time  to  pull  cat-tails  is  during  the  month  of  July.  This  is  suf- 
ficiently late  to  be  sure  that  few  plants  will  appear  later  in  the 
season,  and  early  enough  so  that  the  rice  will  not  be  damaged  by 
tramping  on  it  while  it  is  in  the  boot.  Where  fields  have  become  foul 
due  to  poor  farming  it  may  be  necessary  to  fallow  the  land  for  one 
or  two  years  before  the  cat-tail  growth  can  be  satisfactorily  controlled. 

Joint  grass  (Paspahim  dktichum)  can  be  controlled  by  fallow  for 
a  year  or  two  after  the  fields  become  so  foul  with  this  weed  that  the 
further  production  of  rice  is  not  economical.  The  weed  usually  starts 
from  the  levees  and  after  a  few  years  the  runners  may  be  found  fifty 
or  seventy-five  feet  out  in  the  rice  field. 

Wire  grass  or  spike  rush  (Eleocharis  palustris)  can  be  satisfac- 
torily controlled  by  a  thorough  plowing  in  the  spring.  If  the  roots 
of  this  weed  are  turned  up  to  the  sun  to  dry  for  four  or  five  days, 
very  few  of  the  plants  will  survive.  It  is  usually  only  in  the  corners 
of  the  field  that  this  weed  is  at  all  troublesome. 


COMPARISON    OF    AIR    AND    WATER    TEMPERATURES 

It  is  believed  by  some  growers  that  during  periods  of  cool  weather 
the  soil  can  be  warmed  by  withdrawing  the  irrigation  water  for  a 
few  days.  In  order  to  make  a  comparison  of  the  air  and  water 
temperatures  during  the  growing  season,  a  thermograph  record  of 
the  water  temperatures  was  kept,  beginning  in  1924.  An  air  thermo- 
graph was  installed  at  the  time  the  station  was  started.  The  torpedo 
of  the  thermograph  recording  the  water  temperatures  was  placed  on 
the  soil  surface  under  six  inches  of  water  and  was  some  eight  feet  out 
in  the  rice  check,  the  recording  machine  being  placed  on  the  levee. 
The  air  thermograph  was  placed  in  a  Standard  Weather  Bureau 
shelter  house.  The  records  of  these  two  instruments  show  that 
during  May  the  average  maximum  water  temperature  was  always  as 
high,  and  at  times  higher,  than  the  average  maximum  air  temperature. 
The  average  minimum  water  temperature  was  always  higher  than  the 
average  minimum  air  temperature.  However,  as  the  rice  grows  taller 
and  shades  the  water,  the  maximum  temperature  of  the  water  falls 
below  the  maximum  air  temperature. 


10  UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT    STATION 


DUTY   OF   WATER    IN    RICE    IRRIGATION 

During  the  irrigation  seasons  of  1924  and  1925  studies  were  car- 
ried on  to  determine  the  use  of  water  in  rice  irrigation  under  the 
practice  of  all-season  submergence.  Previous  to  those  years  studies 
had  been  conducted  on  the  use  of  water  under  the  method  of  "flush- 
ing" the  field  from  four  to  six  times  prior  to  permanent  submergence.5 
They  show  a  net  use  varying  from  3.94  acre-feet  to  the  acre  on  what 
are  known  in  the  soil  surveys  as  Capay  clay  soils,  to  10.94  acre-feet 
to  the  acre  on  the  San  Joaquin  loam  soils.  On  the  clay,  clay  adobe, 
and  adobe  soils,  which  are  the  usual  rice  soils  in  the  Sacramento 
Valley,  the  net  use  varied  between  3.91  and  5.72  acre-feet  per  acre. 

Since  the  method  of  continuous  submergence  from  time  of  plant- 
ing was  becoming  a  general  practice  on  old  land,  the  studies  con- 
ducted in  1924  and  1925  were  intended  to  determine  the  difference 
in  water  requirement,  if  any,  due  to  all-season  submergence.  Theo- 
retically, providing  the  length  of  the  irrigation  season  is  the  same, 
continuous  submergence  should  result  in  a  larger  use  than  submergence 
beginning  several  weeks  after  seeding.  The  longer  period  of  sub- 
mergence should  result  in  greater  loss  through  seepage,  evaporation, 
and  waste  over  the  tail  gate.  However,  the  results  obtained  during 
1924  and  1925  showed  practically  the  same  use  as  obtained  with  the 
earlier  method.  This  may  be  due  to  the  fact  that  earlier  maturing 
varieties  are  now  being  planted,  and  the  method  of  continuous  sub- 
mergence further  hastens  the  maturity  of  rice  by  several  days.  In 
1916,  1917  and  1918  the  length  of  the  irrigation  season  varied  from 
139  to  189  days,  with  the  irrigation  season  on  the  majority  of  the 
fields,  more  than  155  days.  In  1924  and  1925  the  length  of  the  irri- 
gation season  varied  from  109  to  146  days,  with  only  two  fields  exceed- 
ing 140  days. 

Six  fields  were  studied  in  1924,  the  total  area  being  1200.49  acres. 
The  individual  fields  varied  in  size  from  63  to  612.9  acres.  These 
fields  were  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sacramento  Valley,  from 
Williams  north  to  Willows,  and  covered  the  range  of  soil  types  on 
which  rice  is  most  generally  grown  in  this  area.  Measurements  of 
delivery  to  the  fields  were  made  with  submerged  orifices,  carefully 
standardized,  while  the  drainage  water  was  measured  over  rectangular 
weirs.  Automatic  water-stage  registers,  visited  daily  throughout  the 
season,  recorded  the  flow  in  both  cases.  Typical  installations  of  these 
devices  are  shown  by  figures  2  and  3.    In  all,  27  water-stage  registers 


5  Adams,  Frank.    Rice  irrigation  measurements  and  experiments  in  Sacramento 
Valley,  1914-1919.     California  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  325:  47-69.     1920. 


Bul.  454]       RICE  EXPERIMENTS   IN   SACRAMENTO  VALLEY,    1922-1927         11 

were  necessary.  At  the  close  of  the  season,  yields  produced  on  all 
fields  under  observation  were  obtained  and  are  included  in  the  tables 
given  below.  However,  yields  are  influenced  so  much  by  the  human 
factor  and  the  elements  that  they  can  not  be  directly  correlated  with 
amounts  of  water  used.  The  results  of  the  1921  season  show  a  net  use 
ranging1  from  4.20  acre-feet  per  acre  on  the  Willows  clay  adobe  soils 


Fig.  2, 


Typical  submerged  orifice  used  in  measuring  delivery  of  water 
to  rice  fields,  1924. 


H\\\W 


W  I 


Fig.  3. — Typical  rectangular  weir  used  in  measuring  drainage  watei 
from  rice  fields,  1924. 


12 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT    STATION 


to  a  net  use  of  7.41  acre-feet  per  acre  on  the  Willows  loam  soils.  The 
average  net  use  on  the  Willows  clay  and  clay  adobe  amounted  to 
4.81  acre-feet  to  the  acre. 

Two  fields  were  studied  in  1925,  one  field  of  112  acres  being  located 
near  Cortena  on  Willows  clay  soil,  and  the  other  field,  comprising 
38.8  acres,  was  on  Stockton  clay  adobe  soil  adjacent  to  the  Biggs  Rice 
Field  Station.  The  same  procedure  followed  in  1924  was  continued 
during  1925. 

The  Armstrong  field  at  Biggs  was  formerly  farmed  by  Mr.  E.  L. 
Adams  and  measurements  of  use  of  water  were  made  on  this  field 
from  1914  to  1917,  inclusive,  under  the  old  method  of  flushing  several 
times  before  submerging  the  field  permanently.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  the  net  use  on  this  field  in  1916  was  4.27  acre-feet  to  the 
acre,  and  in  1917  the  net  use  was  4.37  acre-feet  to  the  acre,  the  average 
use  for  the  four  seasons  having  been  4.53  acre-feet  to  the  acre.  In 
1925,  under  the  continuous  submergence  method,  the  net  use  amounted 
to  4.88  acre-feet  to  the  acre.  This  increased  use  may  be  due  to  the 
fact  that  since  1918  deep  drains  have  been  constructed  on  two  sides 
of  the  field.  The  irrigation  season  in  1916  amounted  to  171  days 
and  in  1917  to  164  days,  while  in  1925  the  length  of  the  irrigation 
season  was  134  days. 

The  results  of  the  work  in  1925  show  that  on  the  Willows  clay 
adobe  the  net  use  was  4.27  acre-feet  to  the  acre,  while  on  the  Stockton 
clay  adobe  the  net  use  was  4.88  acre-feet  to  the  acre. 

In  tables  4  and  5  are  included  summaries  of  the  data  obtained  on 
the  use  of  water  during  1924  and  1925. 


TABLE  4 
Duty  of  Water  for  Eice  on  Eight  Fields  Under  All-season  Submergence, 

1924-1925 


Year 

Grower 

Acreage 

Total 
intake, 
acre-feet 

Total 
measured 
drainage, 
acre-feet 

Total 

lost  over 

levees, 

acre-feet 

(estimated) 

Acre-feet 
on  field 
at  date  of 
draining 
(estimated) 

Variety 
of  rice 

Yield, 

pounds 

per 

acre 

1924 

H usted 

63.28 

492.00 

129.91 

None 

21.09 

Onsen 

2,978 

1924 

Yarborough 

102.38 

532.21 

92.71 

9.30 

34.12 

Caloro 

2,780 

1924 

Rathbun 

111.67 

789.93 

212.70 

None 

27.91 

Onsen 

2,770 

1924 

Bruggman 

109.41 

734.19 

163.69 

64.87 

27.35 

Caloro 

2,496 

1924 

Goepf 

200.85 

1,653.48 

63.53 

None 

100  43 

Caloro 

2,275 

1924 

Jones 

612.90 

5,109.08 

587.67 

None 

204  30 

f  Early 
(Wataribune 

1,028* 

1925 

A  nderson 

112.05 

651.25 

119.30 

None 

56  0 

1,600 

2,699 

1925 

Armstrong 

38.8 

318.83 

129.40 

None 

Drainage 
all 
measured 

Caloro 

3,200 

Based  on  area  irrigated;  1,139  pounds,  based  on  area  harvested. 


«    o 


CO 

to 

cn 

CO 

to 

Cn 

- 

EC 

•*- 

1924 
1924 

CO    co 

to   to 

4»     4- 

P 

Moore 

Yarborough 

Hotaling 

S.V.S.F.L.Co. 
Minor  Ranch 
Barcelaux 

Esperanza 
Land  Co. 

Armstrong 

o 

J; 

3 

re 
-i 

Husted 
Yarborough 
Rathbun 
Bros. 

Bruggman 
Goepf 
Jones 

Anderson 

and  Bank  of 

Williams 
Armstrong 

Grower 

Willows  clay 
Willows  clay 

Willows  clay  adobe 
Willows  clay  adobe 
Willows  loam 
Willows   loam   and 
Willows  clay  adobe 

Willows  clay  adobe 
Stockton 
clay  adobe 

Soil  classification 
from  soil  maps 
of  U.  S.  D.  A., 
Bureau  of  Soils 

63.28 
102.38 

111.67 
109.41 
200.85 
612.90 

112  05 

38.8 

p  >► 
re  a 

co          to                       co    >*».    co   o          rf^to 

»*••             4^                               CO    CO    ^1    CO             O    Oi 

Irriga- 
tion 

season, 
days 

7.78 
5.19 

7.06 
6.67 
8.23 
8.34 

5.81 
8.21 

H 
o 

p. 

p 

go 

Ts  re 

re'  c<- 

CL3- 

"pS, 

3* 
ll 

re  re 
re  i 

5.72 
4  20 

5.03 
4.67 
7.41 
7  09 

4.27* 

4.88J 

2 

re 

•** 

OS 

CO 

Average 

net  for 

soil 

type 

12.65 
24.90 

27  33 
34  51 
30.67 
35.53 

19.44 

7.87 

During 
submer- 
gence, 
acres 

co  re 
re  p 

h 

-    re 
re  2 

c  cr 

S£ 

eg 

CO    c+ 

re 

47.22 

78.15 

48.55 
67.45 
36.72 
35.74 

56.87 
58.79 

From 
submer- 
gence to 
end  of 
season, 

acres 

43.35 
68.57 

42.79 
57.88 
35.89 
35.69 

51.63 
53. 29* 

For 

whole 

season, 

acres 

Cn 

to 

OO 

o 

Cn 
Cn 

OO 

Average 
whole 
season 
for  soil 
type, 
acres 

46.18 
74.73 

45  21 
62.52 
38.18 
37  39 

57.73 
53.29* 

3 

Acres  served  per  cubic  foot  per  second 

based  on  total  intake,  less  measured 

drainage  and  less  acre-feet  of  water  on 

field  on  date  of  draining 

Cn 

Cn 

O 
co 

o 

cn 

> 

^Tp 

■*■  k 
*  3 

14  UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT    STATION 


SUMMARY   AND    CONCLUSIONS 

1.  Rice  sown  broadcast  at  the  rate  of  150  pounds  per  acre  and 
immediately  submerged  six  to  eight  inches  deep  will  produce  satis- 
factory yields  on  old  land,  providing  Avell  matured  seed  is  used  and 
planted  as  early  in  the  spring  as  possible  on  a  well  prepared  seed  bed. 

2.  The  continuous  submergence  of  rice  to  depths  of  six  to  eight 
inches  will  control  sprangle  top  and  the  earlier  maturing  types  of 
water  grass. 

3.  Continuous  submergence  will  not  control  the  late  white  water 
grass.  This  weed  should  always  be  pulled  where  it  is  economically 
possible  to  do  so. 

4.  Deep  plowing  in  the  spring  will  aid  in  the  control  of  cat-tail 
plants,  provided  the  up-turned  roots  are  allowed  to  become  thoroughly 
dry  before  preparing  the  seed  bed.  Any  of  these  plants  that  are  not 
killed  by  this  treatment  should  be  pulled  during  July. 

5.  The  detrimental  effects  of  such  weeds  as  sedge,  red  stem,  arrow- 
head and  water  plantain  are  materially  reduced  by  thick  stands  of 
rice. 

6.  Joint  grass  can  usually  be  controlled  by  a  year  or  two  of  dry 
fallow. 

7.  Spike  rush  can  be  satisfactorily  controlled  by  a  thorough  spring 
plowing,  provided  a  period  of  drying  weather  follows. 

8.  On  old  land  which  is  not  producing  more  than  3000  pounds  to 
the  acre  it  is  an  economical  practice  to  apply  150  pounds  of  am- 
monium sulphate  to  the  acre  just  prior  to  seeding. 

9.  An  occasional  year  or  two  of  fallow  will  aid  in  bringing  the  soil 
into  better  physical  condition ;  will  help  in  controlling  such  weeds  as 
cat-tails,  joint  grass  and  spike  rush ;  and  will  probably  result  in  some 
increase  in  the  yield  of  rice. 

10.  The  minimum  water  temperature  during  the  growing  season 
is  always  somewhat  higher  than  the  minimum  air  temperature.  Prom 
these  studies  the  conclusion  may  be  drawn  that  from  the  standpoint 
of  "warming  up  the  soil"  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  withdraw- 
ing the  water  for  a  few  days. 

11.  Studies  carried  on  in  1924  and  1925  show  that  under  the 
method  of  continuous  submergence  the  net  duty  of  water  for  rice 
should  not  amount  to  more  than  5  acre-feet  to  the  acre  on  the  clay, 
clay  adobe  or  adobe  soils.  On  the  loam  soils  the  net  duty  may  amount 
to  as  much  as  8  acre-feet  to  the  acre. 


STATION  PUBLICATIONS   AVAILABLE   FOR  FREE   DISTRIBUTION 


No. 

253.  Irrigation  and  Soil  Conditions  in  the 
Sierra   Nevada   Foothills,    California. 

262.  Citrus   Diseases   of    Florida   and    Cuba 

Compared   with   those  of   California. 

263.  Size  Grades  for  Ripe  Olives. 

268.   Growing  and  Grafting  Olive  Seedlings. 
273.   Preliminary  Report  on  Kearney  A' ine- 

yard     Experimental     Drain,     Fresno 

County,    Calif. 

277.  Sudan  Grass. 

278.  Grain   Sorghums. 

279.  Irrigation   of   Rice  in    California. 
283.  The  Olive  Insects  of  California. 

304.  A  Study  of  the  Effects  of  Freezes  on 
Citrus  in  California. 

310.   Plum  Pollination. 

313.  Pruning  Young  Deciduous  Fruit 
Trees. 

324.  Storage  of  Perishable  Fruits  at  Freez- 
ing Temperatures. 

328.   Prune    Growing  in    California. 

331.   Phylloxera-resistant  Stocks. 

335.  Cocoanut  Meal  as  a  Feed  for  Dairy 
Cows   and   Other   Livestock. 

340.  Control  of  the  Pocket  Gopher  in 
California. 

343.  Cheese   Pests  and  Their   Control. 

344.  Cold    Storage   as   an    Aid  to   the   Mar- 

keting of  Plums,   a  Progress  Report. 

347.  The  Control  of  Red  Spiders  in  Decid- 

uous Orchards. 

348.  Pruning  Young  Olive  Trees. 

349.  A    Study    of    Sidedraft    and    Tractor 

Hitches. 

350.  Agriculture      in      Cut-Over      Redwood 

Lands. 

353.  Bovine    Infectious    Abortion,    and    As- 

sociated Diseases  of  Cattle  and  New- 
born  Calves. 

354.  Results  of  Rice  Experiments  in   1922. 

357.  A    Self-Mixing    Dusting    Machine    for 

Applying  Dry  Insecticides  and  Fun- 
gicides. 

358.  Black    Measles,     Water    Berries,     and 

Related  Vine  Troubles. 

361.  Preliminary   Yield   Tables   for   Second- 

Growth    Redwood. 

362.  Dust   and   the   Tractor   Engine. 

3  63.  The  Pruning  of  Citrus  Trees  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

364.  Fungicidal  Dusts  for  the  Control  of 
Bunt, 

366.  Turkish     Tobacco     Culture,     Curing, 

and   Marketing. 

367.  Methods  of  Harvesting  and  Irrigation 

in  Relation  to  Moldy  Walnuts. 

368.  Bacterial      Decomposition      of      Olives 

During    Pickling. 

369.  Comparison      of     Woods     for      Butter 

Boxes. 

370.  Factors    Influencing    the    Development 

of  Internal  Browning  of  the  Yellow 
Newton   Apple. 

371.  The    Relative    Cost    of    Yarding    Small 

and    Large   Timber. 

373.  Pear    Pollination. 

374.  A     Survey     of     Orchard     Practices     in 

the  Citrus  Industry  of  Southern 
California. 

:',7").  Results  of  Rice  Experiments  at  Cor- 
tena,  192:5,  and  Progress  in  Experi- 
ments in  Water  Grass  Control  al  the 
Biggs    Rice   Field    Station,    1922-23. 

377.   The  Cold   Storage  of  Pears. 

379.  Walnut    Culture   in    California. 

380.  Growth    of    Eucalyptus    in     California 

Plantations. 
382.   Pumping    for    Draininge    in    the    San 

Joaquin   Valley,    California. 
385.   Pollination  of  the  Sweet  Cherry. 


BULLETINS 
No. 


3  86. 

387. 
388. 

389. 

390. 

391. 

392. 
393. 

394. 


395. 

396. 

397. 

398. 
400. 
402. 
404. 
405. 
406. 
407. 


408. 
409. 


411. 
412. 


414. 


415. 
416. 


418. 


420. 


421. 
422. 


423. 


425. 
426. 


427. 


429. 
430. 
431. 

432. 


Pruning  Bearing  Deciduous  Fruit 
Trees. 

Fig    Smut, 

The  Principles  and  Practice  of  Sun- 
Drying  Fruit. 

Berseem  or  Egyptian  Clover. 

Harvesting  and  Packing  Grapes  in 
California. 

Machines  for  Coating  Seed  Wheat 
with   Copper   Carbonate   Dust. 

Fruit  Juice  Concentrates. 

Crop   Sequences  at  Davis. 

I.  Cereal  Hay  Production  in  Cali- 
fornia. II.  Feeding  Trials  with 
Cereal  Hays. 

Bark  Diseases  of  Citrus  Trees  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  Mat  Bean,  Phaseolus  Aconitifo- 
lius. 

Manufacture  of  Roquefort  Type  Cheese 
from  Goat's  Milk. 

Orchard    Heating   in    California. 

The  Utilization  of  Surplus  Plums. 

The  Codling  Moth  in  Walnuts. 

The   Dehydration  of   Prunes. 

Citrus   Culture   in    Central    California. 

Stationary  Spray  Plants  in  California. 

Yield,  Stand,  and  Volume  Tables  for 
White  Fir  in  the  California  Pine 
Region. 

Alternaria  Rot   of   Lemons. 

The  Digestibility  of  Certain  Fruit  By- 
products as  Determined  for  Rumi- 
nants. Part  I.  Dried  Orange  Pulp 
and  Raisin  Pulp. 

Factors  Influencing  the  Quality  of 
Fresh  Asparagus  after  it  is  Har- 
vested. 

Paradichlorobenzene  as  a  Soil  Fumi- 
gant. 

A  Study  of  the  Relative  Value  of  Cer- 
tain Root  Crops  and  Salmon  Oil  as 
Sources    of   Vitamin   A   for    Poultry. 

Planting  and  Thinning  Distances  for 
Deciduous  Fruit  Trees. 

The  Tractor  on  California  Farms. 

Culture  of  the  Oriental  Persimmon  in 
California. 

Poultry  Feeding  :  Principles  and  Prac- 
tice. 

A  Study  of  Various  Rations  for  Fin- 
ishing Range  Calves    as  Baby  Beeves. 

Economic  Aspects  of  the  Cantaloupe 
Industry. 

Rice  and  Rice  By-Products  as  Feeds 
for  Fattening  Swine. 

Beef   Cattle   Feeding  Trials,    1921-24. 

Cost  of  Producing  Almonds  in  Cali- 
fornia :   a  Progress  Report. 

Apricots  (Series  on  California  Crops 
and   Prices). 

The  Relation  of  Rate  of  Maturity  to 
Egg   Production. 

Apple    Growing    in    California. 

Apple  Pollination  Studies  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  Value  of  Orange  Pulp  for  l\lilk 
Production. 

The  Relation  of  Maturity  of  Cali- 
fornia Plums  to  Shipping  and 
Dessert  Quality. 

Economic  Status  of  the  Grape  Industry. 

Range  Grasses  of  California. 

Raisin  By-Products  and  Lean  Screen- 
ings as  Feeds  for  Fattening  Lambs. 

Some  Economic  Problems  Involved  in 
the  Pooling  of  Fruit. 

Power  Requirements  of  Electrically 
Driven     Manufacturing    Equipment. 


No. 
434. 

435. 


436. 
437. 
438 
439. 


No. 

87. 

115. 

117. 

127. 
129. 
136. 

144. 

157. 
164. 
166. 
173. 

178. 
179. 

202. 

203. 
209. 
212. 
215. 
217. 

230. 

231. 
232. 

234. 

238. 
239. 

240. 

241. 

243. 

244. 
245. 
248. 

249. 
250. 

252. 
253. 
254. 

255. 


BULLETINS- 


Investigations  on  the  Use  of  Fruits  in 
Ice  Cream  and  Ices. 

The  Problem  of  Securing  Closer 
Relationship  Between  Agricultural 
Development  and  Irrigation  Con- 
struction. 

I.  The  Kadota  Fig.  II.  Kadota  Fig 
Products. 

Economic  Aspects  of  the  Dairy  In- 
dustry. 

Grafting  Affinities  with  Special  Refer- 
ence to  Plums. 

The  Digestibility  of  Certain  Fruit  By- 
products as  Determined  for  Rumi- 
nants. Part  II.  Dried  Pineapple 
Pulp,  Dried  Lemon  Pulp,  and  Dried 
Olive  Pulp. 


(Continued) 
No. 

440.  The    Feeding    Value    of    Raisins    and 

Dairy  By-Products  for  Growing  and 
Fattening  Swine. 

441.  The  Electric  Brooder. 

442.  Laboratory  Tests  of  Orchard  Heaters. 

443.  Standardization    and    Improvement    of 

California   Butter. 

444.  Series  on  California  Crops  and  Prices: 

Beans. 

445.  Economic    Aspects    of    the    Apple    In- 

dustry. 


CIRCULARS 
No. 


Alfalfa. 

Grafting   Vinifera   Vineyards. 

The  selection  and  Cost  of  a  Small 
Pumping   Plant. 

House  Fumigation. 

The  control  of  Citrus  Insects. 

Melilotus  Indica  as  a  Green-Manure 
Crop  for  California. 

Oidium  or  Powdery  Mildew  of  the 
Vine. 

Control  of   Pear   Scab. 

Small    Fruit    Culture    in    California. 

The   County  Farm   Bureau. 

The  Construction  of  the  "Wood-Hoop 
Silo. 

The  Packing  of  Apples  in  California. 

Factors  of  Importance  in  Producing 
Milk  of  Low  Bacterial  Count. 

County  Organization  for  Rural  Fire 
Control. 

Peat   as   a   Manure    Substitute. 

The  Function  of  the  Farm   Bureau. 

Salvaging   Rain-Damaged   Prunes. 

Feeding   Dairy   Cows   in   California. 

Methods  for  Marketing  Vegetables  in 
California. 

Testing  Milk,  Cream,  and  Skim  Milk 
for  Butterfat. 

The   Home   Vineyard. 

Harvesting  and  Handling  California 
Cherries   for    Eastern    Shipment. 

Winter  Injury  to  Young  Walnut 
Trees  During  1921-1922. 

The   Apricot  in   California. 

Harvesting  and  Handling  Apricots 
and  Plums  for  Eastern  Shipment. 

Harvesting  and  Handling  California 
Pears  for  Eastern  Shipment. 

Harvesting  and  Handling  California 
Peaches  for  Eastern   Shipment. 

Marmalade  Juice  and  Jelly  Juice 
from   Citrus  Fruits. 

Central  Wire  Bracing  for  Fruit  Trees. 

Vine  Pruning  Systems. 

Some  Common  Errors  in  Vine  Prun- 
ing and  Their  Remedies. 

Replacing  Missing  Vines. 

Measurement  of  Irrigation  Water  on 
the  Farm. 

Support   for   Vines. 

Vineyard   Plans. 

The  Use  of  Artificial  Light  to  In- 
crease Winter  Egg  Production. 

Leguminous  Plants  as  Organic  Fer- 
tilizers  in   California   Agriculture. 


257. 

258. 
259. 
261. 
264. 

265. 
266. 

267. 

269. 

270. 
273. 
276. 
277. 

278. 

279. 

281. 


282. 

283. 
284. 
286. 
287. 
288. 
289. 
290. 
292. 
293. 
294. 
296. 

298. 

300. 
301. 
302. 
304. 
305. 
306. 

307. 
308. 
309. 
310. 

311. 


The  Small-Seeded  Horse  Bean  (Vicia 
faba   var.   minor). 

Thinning   Deciduous   Fruits. 

Pear  By-Products. 

Sewing  Grain  Sacks. 

Preliminary  Essentials  to  Bovine  Tu- 
berculosis  Control   in   California. 

Plant   Disease  and   Pest  Control. 

Analyzing  the  Citrus  Orchard  by 
Means  of  Simple  Tree  Records. 

The  Tendency  of  Tractors  to  Rise  in 
Front;  Causes  and  Remedies. 

An   Orchard   Brush   Burner. 

A  Farm  Septic  Tank. 

Saving  the   Gophered  Citrus  Tree. 

Home   Canning. 

Head,  Cane  and  Cordon  Pruning  of 
Vines. 

Olive  Pickling  in  Mediterranean 
Countries. 

The  Preparation  and  Refining  of 
Olive  Oil  in  Southern  Europe. 

The  Results  of  a  Survey  to  Deter- 
mine the  Cost  of  Producing  Beef  in 
California. 

Prevention  of  Insect  Attack  on  Stored 
Grain. 

Fertilizing  Citrus  Trees  in  California. 

The   Almond   in   California. 

Milk  Houses  for  California  Dairies. 

Potato   Production   in    California. 

Phylloxera   Resistant  Vineyards. 

Oak  Fungus  in   Orchard  Trees. 

The  Tangier  Pea. 

Alkali   Soils. 

The    Basis   of    Grape    Standardization. 

Propagation   of   Deciduous  Fruits. 

Control  of  the  California  Ground 
Squirrel. 

Possibilities  and  Limitations  of  Coop- 
erative Marketing. 

Coccidiosis  of  Chickens. 

Buckeye  Poisoning  of  the  Honey  Bee. 

The   Sugar  Beet  in  California. 

Drainage  on  the  Farm. 

Liming  the   Soil. 

A  General  Purpose  Soil  Auger  and 
Its  Use  on  the  Farm. 

American   Foulbrood   and   Its  Control. 

Cantaloupe    Production   in    California. 

Fruit  Tree  and  Orchard  Judging. 

The  Operation  of  the  Bacteriological 
Laboratory  for  Dairy  Plants. 

The  Improvement  of  Quality  in  Figs. 


The  publications  listed  above  may  be  had  by  addressing 

College  of  Agriculture, 

University  of  California, 

Berkeley,  California. 

8m-5,'28 


